Search Crews Find Body Of Missing Stearns County Boater
MELROSE, Minn. (WCCO) -- The search for a missing boater in Stearns County ended tragically Monday morning.
The sheriff's office says 47-year-old Dale Steinemann was thrown from his speedboat when it flipped Sunday afternoon. Two children were also on the boat.
Divers found his body in Lake Sylvia, which is in Melrose Township.
Family members told WCCO the two boys who were on the boat are the sons of Steinemann's ex-girlfriend. They are 7 and 10 years old, and more importantly, they were wearing life jackets when the boat capsized. Steinemann was not.
Family members say Steinemann chose Lake Sylvia to be the place to put his newly-purchased speedboat in the water for the first time. And instead of going alone, he took two boys he loved with him.
Lisa Rolfes is Steinemann's sister. She says the boys called him dad.
"All they said was that they just remember dad throwing them over," she said. "They didn't know where their dad was."
Witnesses told deputies they heard the sound of a boat motor clearing the water. When they looked out on the lake they saw a speedboat on its side and watched as a man was thrown from the boat.
"This is the first that we've all heard that he actually just recently purchased the boat. First time taking it out with his boys. Just wanted to go and spend some time with the boys," Rolfes said.
Rolfes says there are 13 siblings in the family. Steinemann was one of eight boys growing up. She says he loved the outdoors and spending time with his six kids who range in age.
"He's got a big heart. He's always had a big heart. He gives the shirt off his back for anybody," she said.
Witnesses of the accident who jumped in the water quickly found the boys and rescued them. But Steinemann was nowhere to be seen.
"We talked to the mom this morning, they said they're in good health. They got a couple of bruises. They don't know if that was from them pulling them out," Rolfes said. "We were just thankful this morning that they found him. So we could put some closure, put him to rest."
The chief deputy at the Stearns County Sheriff's Office told me it is not clear if the boat was going too fast, but that can cause a speedboat to flip over.
The front or the side of the boat can catch air underneath, causing it to capsize.
The Ramsey County medical examiner is performing an autopsy to determine the exact cause of Steinemann's death.
